I glance at Prince Kevon, wanting to ask if this is his father, but the unshed tears in his eyes tells me he recognizes this person as the king.
“Father,” he says. “I followed your advice and found a girl I love and who cares more for our people than she does for herself. Her name is Zea-Mays Calico, from Rugosa.”
My throat dries, and I bend my legs into an awkward curtsey. “Your Majesty, I wish we met under different circumstances.”
Prince Kevon swallows, and I squeeze his hand to offer my support. “Farewell, Father. I hope you find peace with Gaia.”
“Kevon.” The Hierophant steps toward us. “Is this young woman your choice of bride?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The older man beckons me forward.
I glance at Prince Kevon, whose head bobs with an encouraging nod.
“Zea-Mays Calico, is it?” asks the Hierophant.
My heart spasms. How does someone holy know my name unless he watches the Princess Trials? Should I nod, should I bow, should I curtsey or kiss his ring? Prince Kevon addressed him by his title, which means he’s probably higher in rank.
I clear my throat. “Yes, Your Grace.”
“Then the videos on NetFace are true.” The Hierophant’s face breaks into a smile. “Thank you for your valiant rescue of our future king.”
Heat rises to my cheeks, and my words dry up on my tongue. If I said I would do the same for anyone, it would diminish the depth of my feelings for Prince Kevon.
The Hierophant chuckles, and the moonlight streaming down on us brings out the silver highlights in his blue eyes. “I’m delighted with your choice,” he says to Prince Kevon. “You have my blessing to proceed.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” the prince replies.
A thrill of happiness shoots through my insides as Prince Kevon turns to me with a smile. “I’m giving a eulogy the top of the stairs. Could you wait for me with Forelle?”
“Of course.” I incline my head at the two men and continue alone down the walkway and down another set of stairs.
When I reach the bottom, the only face turned to mine is Forelle’s, as everyone stares up at the main stairs. I take my seat, and all the tension leaves my muscles in a relieved breath.
“People of Phangloria, we gather in this temple and in our domes to celebrate the life of—”
The chamber goes dark, and my ears fill with the sound of an explosion.
Chapter 19
I suck in a breath through my teeth, grab Forelle’s hand, and push us both to the ground. Shrieks erupt through the temple, their echoes mingling with the sounds of explosions and gunshots. Keeping my best friend close, I glance from left to right, but I can’t see any of the flashes of light I would expect from gunfire.
“Kevon,” Garrett yells, but his voice is lost in the chaos of shouts and screams and cries for help.
Forelle whimpers at my side.
I wrap my arm around her back and pull her through the dark in the direction of the pillars. “Stay calm. It’s not real—”
Someone hooks an arm around my middle, lifts me off my knees, and tears me away from Forelle. He’s as big as Dad with a grip like steel and smells of chlorine.
A scream tears from my lips, but my captor clamps a hand over my mouth and carries me at a sprint.
Harsh, rapid breaths wheeze through my nostrils, and my entire consciousness centers on the large body encasing mine, the man’s mechanical movements, and the rapid beat of my heart. This has to be the work of Queen Damascena. I should have known from the way she looked at me earlier that she planned something terrible.
His arms pin mine to my sides, and all I can do is thrash with my legs and hope it’s enough to trip us over. He takes us through doorways, down stairs, and around corners, each passing second separating me further from Forelle and Prince Kevon.
Then as suddenly as he scooped me up, the man deposits me on the hard floor and releases my mouth.
“Who is this?” I swing my fists around in the dark.
Somebody’s muffled laugh turns my fear into fury. I charge in the direction of the sound and manage to land a hit on hard flesh.
“Why have you taken me?” I snarl.
“I apologize for the alarm, Miss Calico,” says a familiar voice.
My brows draw together. He sounds like…
A thin light flares, illuminating the collar and face of Ambassador Pascale. “We don’t have much time. Assassins are approaching the outskirts of Rugosa.”
“My family?” I say with a gasp.
He nods. “An hour ago Queen Damascena gave the order to slaughter your father and hold your mother and brothers hostage until you agree to her demands.”
“How do you know this?” I whisper.
“How indeed?” drawls another familiar voice.
“Mouse?”
“As I implied earlier, Miss Calico, we have mere minutes before the Devotees of Gaia work out how we have sabotaged their lighting and acoustics. Your family, however, do not have the luxury of time.”
Lights from the men’s collars flash on and off, and their excited breaths rattle through my ears. This has to be part of the larger game show he wants to export to the Amstraad Republic, but do I believe the ambassador?
My pulse quickens, and sweat forms on my brow. Mouse has never steered me wrong, and he probably works for Ambassador Pascale. I don’t think it matters if I believe him or not because an attack on my family is exactly what I would expect from Queen Damascena.
“What do you want from me?” I whisper.
The lights on Mouse’s collar shift, as though he’s adjusting his jacket, but Ambassador Pascale’s face remains patient and still. The expression doesn’t match the supposed urgency of the situation, making me doubt their claims.
“We have agents stationed in Rugosa, ready
